LOS ANGELES—The world's largest computer graphics tradeshow, Siggraph, celebrates its 31st year with over 25,000 international attendees from both industry and academia, and more than 230 vendors showing their wares at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

A very cerebral show by nature, Siggraph is all about learning and demonstrating new graphics technologies, products, and design techniques.

Many attendees are from the entertainment industry, including movie studios, digital effects companies, and 3-D gaming outfits. Some work in slightly less exciting 2-D/3-D workstation areas. Collaborative groups and individuals from numerous universities throughout the world, and research divisions of such companies as Microsoft Corp. and IBM Corp., present summaries of their research projects at Siggraph.